IPOB rejects the offer by Soludo to stand as Kanu’s surety, saying the proposal is belated and not needed
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has rejected the offer by the Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to stand as surety for its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
It also described as belated, the recent call by Soludo for the unconditional release of Kanu, saying that it is not needed, stressing that any genuine call/demand in that regard should be firmly directed at calling on the Federal Government to immediately obey the order for the unconditional release of Kanu by the court
The governor had recently demanded the release of the IPOB leader, pledging to stand as surety in the government acceding to the request.
However, IPOB noted that Soludo’s call came three months and one day after the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division, in its judgement delivered on October 13, 2022, discharged and acquitted Kanu of all charges proffered against him by the Nigerian Government.
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In a statement by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the organiation emphasised that having been discharged in October 2022 by the Court of Appeal, Kanu does not have any need for surety because there is no charge hanging on his neck as at today.
The statement reads in part: “We have gone beyond issue of surety or no surety. Every genuine call/demand in the prevailing circumstance should be firmly directed at calling out on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately obey the order for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu by its own court.
“IPOB and all the remaining 8-Count amended charge preferred against him, and consequently directed for his unconditional release. The landmark judgement further prohibited the Federal Government of Nigeria from further detaining our leader or even presenting him for trial on any indictment or offence whatsoever before any court in Nigeria.
“It is important therefore, to clarify that our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has no any form of indictment or even charge pending against him today before any court by the authority of this Judgement.
“The issue of granting bail or otherwise does not arise by any stretch of consideration or imagination, because it is the Federal Government that is today in breach of this order of superior court of competent Jurisdiction.
“It is to be emphasized further that Onyendu who was discharged on the 13th Day of October 2022, by the court of appeal court do not have any need for surety because there is no charge hanging on his neck today.
“We have gone beyond issue of Surety or no surety, every genuine call/demand in the prevailing circumstance should be firmly directed at calling out on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately obey the order for the unconditional release of Onyendu made by its own court.”
IPOB also reminded Governor Soludo and others, that “Kanu’s current incarceration is not sanctioned by any law known to man, it is unconstitutional and affront to constitutional democracy and rule of law.”
It added: “Further to the above, is the fact that Mazi Nnamdi KANU have no case to answer again, therefore, the need for surety does not arise, instead Governor Soludo should gear all his efforts towards persuading and compelling on the lawless Fulani rulers of Nigeria to obey their own Law.
“It is to be pointed out further, that this kind of plea is the reason why Janjawead rulers of Nigeria have no regard for the rule of Law, why should we be pleading with them to obey their own court orders directing for the unconditional release of Onyendu. It’s compelling and mandatory on their part to obey their own court orders.
“Federal Government is today is grave contempt of the orders of court of its own court , and their appeal before the Supreme Court cannot justify the present illegal incarceration of our leader in a solitary confinement in DSS.”
